|
Two Northern Virginia lawmakers objected Friday to the
announced closing of the Potomac River bridges leading into Washington D.C. on
Inauguration Day. In a letter sent to the Secret Service, Reps. Jim Moran
(D-Va.) and Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) called for greater access on the bridges for
medical personnel, hospitality workers and pedestrians coming in from Virginia
for the swearing-in of President-elect Obama.
“Commonsense, not fear, should be guiding our
transportation policies on Inauguration Day,” said Moran, whose district is
home to almost 700,000 people in Alexandria and Arlington. “Bridge access for
key personnel, such as medical staff and hospitality, needs to be initiated.”
On Wednesday, the Secret Service announced it would
restrict access across the Key, 14th Street, and Roosevelt bridges to buses,
taxis, limousines and official vehicles beginning at 2 a.m. on Jan. 20, the day
of the event. The Memorial and Chain bridges will be open to pedestrians only.
“For weeks we’ve been told that those living within a
couple miles of the National Mall should try to walk to the ceremonies,” Moran
said. “But only two of the bridges are open to foot traffic, one of which is
nowhere near the Mall. That’s not acceptable.”
Connolly, a freshman who replaced Rep. Tom Davis (R) in
Virginia’s 11th district, also asked officials to reconsider their decision.
“I urge them to explore ways to provide transportation
choices for Northern Virginians wishing to attend the inauguration and for key
medical personnel traveling to the District.”
Officials are planning to reopen the bridges for normal
use at 7 p.m. on Jan. 20.
A spokesman for AAA’s Mid-Atlantic region said he was
“just stunned” when he heard of the bridge restrictions and called the letter from
the Virginia congressmen “a step in the right direction.”
“For security personnel, for hospital workers, for
hospitality workers, the restaurants, the hotels, for retail, it’s supposed to
be a banner day,” said Lon Anderson. “And you’ve got a huge workforce that’s
got to get here.
“Mobility appears to be the most endangered species in
the region right now around the Inaugural,” he added. “They’ve given us the
security plan, okay, so now give us the mobility plan.” Following publication of this report, federal authorities
announced they would keep the west side of the 14th Street Bridge
open for pedestrians.
“I appreciate the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Park Service
and the numerous federal, state and local jurisdictions involved in this
decision for their willingness to reconsider the initial plan to close the 14th
St. Bridge to pedestrians,” said Moran. “With direct
access to the National Mall, it makes perfect sense to open the 14th
Street Bridge.”
Even though he praised the move, Moran said that more
changes need to be made to ease mobility on Inauguration Day.
|
